The potential therapeutic effects of melatonin on breast cancer: An invasion and metastasis inhibitor

Published on Friday, 02 October 2020

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and its metastasis which generally observed at the last stage is the major cause of breast cancer-related death.

Therefore, the agents that have the potential to prevent metastatic and invasive nature of breast cancer can open up new therapeutic strategies.

Melatonin, a major hormone of pineal gland, is a powerful anti-cancer agent.

There are growing evidence regarding the protective effect of melatonin against cancer invasion and metastasis.

The anti-metastatic feature of melatonin accompanies with suppression of tumor proliferation, induction of tumor apoptosis, regulation of the cell cycle, modulating angiogenesis, impediment of invasion, and induction of cancer cells sensitivity to the chemotherapy agents.

More recently, anti-metastatic effect of melatonin through affecting cancer stem cells and vascular mimicry has been identified.

Thus, the aim of this review is to discuss the potential therapeutic effect of melatonin on breast cancer via modulating the cells invasion and metastasis.

NOTE: This publication cites (Ref. N.75): G. Di Bella, F. Mascia, A. Ricchi, B. Colori - Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the first-line treatment with somatostatin combined with melatonin, retinoids, vitamin D3, and low doses of cyclophosphamide in 20 cases of breast cancer: a preliminary report. Neuroendocrinol. Lett. 34 (2013) 660–668.

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About this publication.

The Di Bella's Method: Use of Melatonin, Estrogen therapy (Anastrozole 1 mg tab per day), pseudo-Metronomic Chemotherapy Cyclophosphamide and/or Hydroxyurea, Somatostatin/Octreotide analogues and/or derivatives with Cabergoline and/or Bromocriptine (together with others chemical compounds) in Breast Cancer:

- A retrospective observational clinical study of triple negative breast cancer cases treated with Di Bella Method: A preliminary data;

- The Synergism of Somatostatin, Melatonin, Vitamins Prolactin and Estrogen Inhibitors Increased Survival, Objective Response and Performance Status In 297 Cases of Breast Cancer;

- Complete objective response, stable for 5 years, with the Di Bella Method, of multiple-metastatic carcinoma of the breast;

- Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the first-line treatment with somatostatin combined with melatonin, retinoids, vitamin D3, and low doses of cyclophosphamide in 20 cases of breast cancer: a preliminary report;

- The Di Bella Method (DBM) improved survival, objective response and performance status in a retrospective observational clinical study on 122 cases of breast cancer;

- Complete objective response to biological therapy of plurifocal breast carcinoma;

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Melatonin tablets. From 30-40mg/day up to 200mg/day and more orally in patients with advanced stage of cancer disease and/or patients without respond to traditional treatments);

- Melatonin use in cancer patients have started in 1974, when melatonin prepared according to Prof. Di Bella’s formulation [...]. For 11 days was administered to the patient, admitted to the general medical ward at the Maggiore-Pizzardi Hospital in Bologna, very slowly (over approx. 8 hours) and intravenously administered 1000 mg of melatonin for 11 days. During the course of each day, the patient was intravenously administered 4 saline drips of 500 ml, each containing ten 25 mg bottles of freeze-dried melatonin, lasting 2 hours, totaling 1000 mg per day. No other drug of any kind was administered in order to ascertain the effect of the MLT without interference [...]. From Melatonin with adenosine solubilized in water and stabilized with glycine for oncological treatment - technical preparation, effectivity and clinical findings;

- About Melatonin - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;

- Publication: Melatonin anticancer effects: Review (from Di Bella's Foundation);

- Publication: Key aspects of melatonin physiology: 30 years of research (from Di Bella's Foundation);

- The Di Bella Method (A Variable Part - Omega 3 Essential/Unsaturated Fatty Acids. From 1.5 grams up to 3.0 grams per day orally);

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - All-Trans Retinoic Acid, Analogues and/or Derivatives - Approximately 60mg per day orally: 40mg per day Beta-Carotene/β-Carotene, 10mg per day ATRA and 10mg per day Axerophthol palmitate);

- All-Trans-Retinoic Acid (ATRA - analogues and/or derivatives) - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;

- Solution of retinoids in vitamin E in the Di Bella Method biological multitherapy;

- The Di Bella Method (A Variable Part - Selenium methonine, 40 μg capsules, twice a day);

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Somatostatin, Octreotide, Sandostatin LAR, analogues and/or derivatives);

- Somatostatin in oncology, the overlooked evidences - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;

- Publication, 2018 Jul: Over-Expression of GH/GHR in Breast Cancer and Oncosuppressor Role of Somatostatin as a Physiological Inhibitor (from Di Bella's Foundation);

- Publication, 2018 Sep: The over-expression of GH/GHR in tumour tissues with respect to healthy ones confirms its oncogenic role and the consequent oncosuppressor role of its physiological inhibitor, somatostatin: a review of the literature (from Di Bella's Foundation);